Steal Me, Cowboy Read Online Free PDF Page B

from Adam.” I didn’t know what to say to that. But oddly enough, I felt like I did know Beck. “So how’s the motel?”
    “Great.” I screwed my eyes shut, lying to him again. “A little cramped, but it’s my own fault, I always over-pack.”
    “Yeah, I got that,” He laughed. “Did you have dinner yet?”
    “No, I’m still full from lunch.”
    And then there was silence. He didn’t say anything for a long time and I didn’t either. But it wasn’t uncomfortable. No, it felt good to know someone was on the other end of the call, and I was glad it was Beck.
    “Do me a favor?” he asked.
    “Sure.”
    “I don’t like the idea of you being alone. Will you put my number in your phone? Just in case.”
    “Okay.” I punched his number and name into my contact list.
    “Call me now from your cell to make sure it works.”
    The call rang through to his voice mail. Flirty Beck said he was sorry he missed my call and to leave a message. Flirty Beck said he’d call back later , as in maybe tomorrow or very soon. “It works, Beck.”
    “I’ll let you get some sleep. Night, Rainey.”
    “Good night,” I said, knowing full well I’d just given Beck Hartnett my phone number. But I pretended it didn’t mean anything.
     

     
    I called Antwan next and tried to forget Flirty Beck and Contrite Beck, who I didn’t know from Adam, but I wasn’t about to call Adam again.
    “I’m just saying right now, you’re not getting Buster back.” I could hear music in the background… Antwan and my dog were partying hard.
    “You’ll have a hard time with that, he’s definitely a mama’s boy.”
    “And he’s way better than the other men in our lives, Rainey. SO much better”
    “Really?”
    “For me, he’s perfect because he’s the ultimate Cher fan, and he even loves the really old stuff. But for you, he’s so much better than Adam. He misses you when you’re gone. He actually feels guilt when he’s done something wrong. And, most importantly, you can train him.” I heard a slurpy sound and Antwan was laughing, I could almost see Buster bathing his face.“ He knows it’s you. Wanna talk to him?”
    “Yeah.” The slurpy sound got louder, so I knew Antwan had the phone near Buster’s ear. “Hey, baby. Mama misses you so much. Be good for Antwan, but not so good he won’t give you back. I haven’t seen daddy yet, baby, but when I do, I’ll give him a big kiss for you.”
    “You haven’t seen Adam yet? What the fuck, Rainey? You’d better not be chickening out. Are you even in Missoula?”
    “No, I got as far as Marietta, Montana , and my car died. I don’t know what I’m going to do, Antwan. I know the repair bill is going to be huge.”
    “So what’s wrong with the car? Can it be fixed?”
    “I’ll know tomorrow. I can’t imagine how much the tab was just to tow the damn thing sixty miles.” I paused, trying to choke back the truth, but Antwan was my hairstylist. “There’s something else. Adam’s not returning my calls—I’m stuck here, Antwan, and I’m afraid.”
    “Honey, if I had a pot to pee in, you know I’d send you money for a ticket home. Can you call your parents?”
    “I’m not calling my parents for money, and I know you would help if you could, but I don’t want anybody’s sympathy or charity. I got myself into this mess and I’ll get myself out. I just wanted you to know—.” He’d turned the music down, but I could still hear Cher crooning in the background. Antwan was a lot of amazing things, but the thing he did best was listen. “That’s all. I just wanted you to know.”
    “I love you, Rainey. Be safe out there and don’t worry about Buster. Just get home to us soon.”
    I told him I loved him and ended the call. God, what was I going to do? I wished I could just stop everything, the run of bad luck, the pretty picture of Beck in my head, but most of all I wished I could stop loving Adam Harper. Maybe then it wouldn’t hurt so much that he was